The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-03-23


ance Of some unknown lady
She is a thorough little beauty, | tell
you, and ] fatter myself I'm a good
judge, was his enthusiastic conclusion.
shouldn't mind travelling up to town
with her myself"
Why don't you. then o. came in an
swer.
The first speaker laughed. daren't
nay boy. She has a gorgon OF maid
with her, who Is even more freezing than
this beastiy weather Tell YOU what,
though. at the next station IN try to get
. her some tea, or something, and that'll
pave the way 10 a chat"
Challoner frovned inyoluntarily. such
talk was peculiarly diStastefUi to him
and for the first time it struck him that
for the future his SIadge would be open
10 any and every chance insult which
men such as bis feIlow-trdvelers might
choose "a put upon her. The very thought
Of it It made his blood boil Madge was
- pretty. so young and in many ways 80
thoughtless. that, even more than anoth-
er. she might De made 70 feel her unpro-
tected state and whatever might hap
pen he himself would be powerless to
shield her He became 80 absorbed in
this new thought that he hardly noticed
when the creeping train came to a stand
still and it was only when a sudden
blast Of cold air made IT apparent that
I his companions had thrown down the
window and were leaning ont that he
reused himself To inquire the cause. lie
wa, putting his head out Of his own win
/ dow to look about him. when the guard
+ came along the footboarl. feeling his way
Iaboriously in the binding snow and
shouting at the top Of his voice that all
( passengers were to descend.
Instantly all was in confusion. Cries
. Of why What's the natter Are we in
danger and Guard guard resounded
on all sides Immediately the Younger
Of his companions untastened the door
and calculating. Vow for that pretty
girl jumped ont while the other more
slowly collected his wraps and observed
that he supposed thesnow had been too
much for the engine
This indeed proved to be the case; and,
after some pardonable rumbling ChaI-
/ loner got out Of the train and followed in
the track Of those who We're picking their
way toward roadside station at some
forty wards distance As he did 50
he caught the rough, persuasive tones of
his late companion Really, now, YOU
had better take my arm we shall get on
iirst-rlta.7
The door If tirst-class carriage was
swinging open, and standing before it
50 directly in his path that Challoner al
most fell over him-was the young gen
tlenan who had vaunted his appreciation
of feminine beauty Naturally Challo-
ners glance followed his. and although
he could not distinguish the lady's feat
ures. he was becoming dimly conscious
that the brown velvet coat was strangely
familiar. when She spoke a few words in
a tone whichSent the blood rapidly cours-
ing through his veins Thank you; l
viii not trouble You my maid i with
me
Madge'> voice Challoner dropped his
rugs, scrambled mp on 10 the footboard,
and held ont his arms. Come down at
once he cried, authoritatiyely. It may
not be safe for you to stay there Jump,
and III catch you. May trouble You to
get out of the way, Sir? This lady is my
wife.
Madee flung herself instantly into the
outStretchei arms. and burst into hyster-
icaI sobbing.
Oh, John. John have been 50 cold
and 50 frightened And the Light in our
carriage went out. and / thought some
thing might happen to thetr and hurt
YOU"
Why. Madge ?'
Never before had ChalIoner seen his
wife SO thoroughly unhinged and fright
ened. and his heart gave great leap As
he echoed her last words Hurt me9
of course NOT. But how came YOU to be
travelling to town. Why didn't You stay
in Edinburg: Do You think YOU have
taken cold 2~ He asked the questions
all in a breath but when she began ex-
planning that she wanted 70 spend Christ
mas in town with her aunt, he hastily
cut her short
There Is no time 10 talk We must
get on to the station. Parker [this to the
maid, follow me closely, and try 10 walk
in my footsteps / shall carry your mis-
rress the snow is too deep for her 10
walk"
While speaking. he took the trembling
.irl in his ans. and began slowly plod-
ding along in the direction the guard had
indicated OF course il vas only chance
meetiu 2. and Challoner was too free from
superstition 10 look on It a, anything else,
bot even while he was reminding himself
that it was a terrible pity they had met
that their tempers were wholly in
compdtible-and that it would be mis-
cry to live again through the last few
months. he was still holding the girl very
closely and tenderly, and wishing inspite
Of himself that the distance could be-
doubled
When they reached the little country
station hey found it TO be better proyid-
ed with shelter than Is usually the case,
and though there WAS only one man in
charge he was a sensible, good-natured
individual, who did his best for the poor
travellers thus thrown upon his hands.
Either the sight Of Nadge's white child
ike face. or the pleasant assurance that
the gentleman would max it worth his
while. induced him to open little box
of a room which appeared TO be his es-
pecial property. and TO motion Challoner
10 enter.
Your lady viii be more comfortable
there. sir. than in the big room along o.
the third-class passengers and al, - be
suggested and a. neither husband or
wife could think Of a sufficient excuse for
preferring the company Of their fellow
travellers, they were obliged to follow the
mans lead
| will not intrude upon yourprivacy.'
said Challoner. stiffiy. A. soon as the sta